Quebec Premier François Legault and his wife test negative for COVID-19

MONTREAL — Quebec Premier François Legault says he has tested negative for COVID-19.

Legault and his wife were tested after meeting with Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole on Monday.

In a message posted to his Facebook page, Legault said he would remain in isolation until Sept. 28 in accordance with public health guidelines.

O’Toole tested positive late Friday, hours after Bloc Québécois Leader Yves- François Blanchet issued a statement saying he had tested positive.

Legault says he will continue to fulfil his duties from home, and will be replaced by deputy premier Genevieve Guilbault at question period and in news conferences.

In his message, Legault encouraged Quebecers to keep following public health guidelines.

“We all have our part of the responsibility in fighting the virus,” he wrote.

“I’m counting on all Quebecers to respect the rules and the health measures.”

Quebec on Saturday reported its highest total of new cases since late May, as well as five additional deaths.

The 427 new cases bring the provincial total to 67,080.

Officials said two of the deaths occurred in the past 24 hours, while the other three occurred earlier, bringing the provincial death toll to 5,797.

Hospitalizations declined by five to 131, while the number of people in intensive case rose by one to 31.

Health officials carried out 29,079 tests on Sept. 17, the last day for which data is available.

Meanwhile, a major COVID-19 testing operation was underway in Quebec’s Bas-Saint-Laurent region after several positive cases were detected at a pork factory.

Regional health authorities were testing the 450 employees at Aliments Asta, a slaughterhouse in Saint-Alexandre-de-Kamouraska, 170 kilometres northeast of Quebec City.

They said in a news release that the testing operation is expected to finish later Saturday.